Vilageidiotx — Roleplayer Guild

The reason for the credits is that, quite literally, half of that is written by me and another half by Gorgenmast. If only one person writes a post then we do not have credits. Personally, I don't think it particularly undermines the flow of the work, since there is more than enough IC to keep it from being any more than a blip. Also, each post is written in chapter format, which is to say there is a clear beginning and end, so those credits are essentially squeezed between two complete pieces of the story rather than in the middle of the narrative. I can see why somebody else wouldn't want to do the same thing, but I feel comfortable that it works within the frame of Precipice's style. 

POV definetly helps keep things tied down too, I agree. It took us a while to develop a proper POv system (the PoW thread I linked too is what we have here, but we've been doing this for four years now over three forums, so there has been quite a bit of time to develop.) Over the last year or two, i've been making an effort to boil down the number of POV's I have. Now, being an NRP with such a large scale, we can't pull off one POV per player, so it does get convoluted. 

@Vilageidiotx Ah, I see, I'll remedy that right away

Would Azerbaijan be a more suitable substitute?@babbysama

The third map in the OP covers what specific provinces are available. In this case, you'd be looking for Atropatene.

Leader Name: Theophilius Melissenus (Theophilos Melissenos)

Faction Name: Roman Empire

Map Province: Dicose of Egypt

History/Bio: The Dicose of Egypt suffered under heavy taxation and religious differences, although for several reigns, the Emperors have tried to find a compromise that would please both East and West, sometimes favoring the West, sometimes favoring the East. The latest compromise was Monothelism, the idea that Christ had two natures, but one will, which in turn was seen as a 'lukewarm' and 'watered-down' version of Chalcedonian and Miaphysite doctrines. The reason that the Early Church was so insistent on dividing itself via debates on the nature of Christ was because of their adoption of Pagan Roman Philosophy, most prominently Neoplatonism, whose distinction between the material and spiritual influenced people from Origen and St. Augustine.

Needless to say, this adoption made even the slightest of differences into a philosophical, life-and-death situation, literally. Not merely that, but the adoption of Pagan Roman Mores, including the rule that Women must adopt the surname of their closest male relative or husband, also permeated Christianity, turning it from a religion that made widows and unmarried women relevant, to a religion that lynched Pagan Female Scholars in Alexandria itself. 

Okay, enough lecturing. My point is, the conflict between the Melkites (Semitic name for Orthodox/Catholic/Chalcedonian) and the Miaphysites in Egypt itself was divisive and destructive, but at the same time, more managable than it looked as long as one concilated the landed families that held all the power. And that was what Theophanes Melissenos, once he came to power in Egypt, started to do.

Born to the Urban Elites in Constantinople, Theophilus was no genius, but still a bit of a savant, who rose up in the ranks, including in the last great war against the Sanassids. Enduring several defeats before final victory, Theophilus learned much about war, but at the same time, from the final campaigns at Cestiphon, also about how superior tactics, mobility, and yes, deception, are vital to turning the tide of a battle.

In Egypt, Theophilus began hearing words from Arab Merchants of the actions of Muhammad, as well as his battles. At first disdainful of this new 'Prophet', he nevertheless retained enough presence of mind to know that as exhausted as the Roman and Sanassid Empires were, they might be caught by a surprise attack. Not merely that, but the fact was that he was prescient enough to know that the normal Roman treatment of the Arabs in Arabia, which inovlved using them as pawns in the Roman - Sanassid conflict, and, like all pawns, casting them aside when they're no longer useful, created much resentment. Therefore, his current advice is to treat the Ghassanids and other Christian Arabs more fairly instead of treating them with disdain.@Letter Bee

The church doctrinal issues weren't really Imperial ploys, but rather reactions from popular theologians in certain regions. The monophysites came from Alexandria originally, and any Emperor who choose to adopt this belief would be doing so as a reaction to their existence rather than masterminding their own interpretations. At least, that is how it worked out traditionally.

I would say mind you spelling, go through and make sure all the words are in their proper form, and you should be good.

Leader Name: Abdullah ibn Abi Quhaafah 

Faction Name: Quraysh

Map Province: lolArabia

History/Bio: The tribe of the Quraysh trace their ancestry to the time or Abraham, and even before. Claiming to be descendants of the first-man, Adam. As well as Abraham his self and his son Ishmael. For generations the tribe carried the Bedouin way of life among the deserts of Arabia, they and the tribes that made up their clan identity.

Their way of life would not change until the Roman year of 400 when Qusai ibn Kilab, through diplomacy and war, settled their clan at the rich city of Mecca and was pronounced the clan's first king. Although, the title would not transfer to an heir and after Qusai's death there would be no named King of the Quraysh, nor any central leading figure for several centuries after.

However, the tribe retained their position as the shiekhs of Mecca and the custodians of the pagan shrine of the Kabbah. They grew powerful and wealthy as merchants as they assumed and retained their bountiful position at the center of Arabic life. Unchallenged and unchanged for several centuries the Quraysh blossomed into a powerful merchant tribe. In a sense, nearly the defacto rulers of Arabia through their powerful influence through Mecca and the Kabbah at its heart.

The ripples that would change the course of the tribe hit the oasis waters of the Bedouin tribes in the Roman year of 570.

Born a fatherless orphan, Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim was the son of Abdullah, an aspiring merchant of the Banu Hashim. Abdullah – who had been called to Syria on a merchant voyage – however never lived long enough to see his son Mohammad born, as he fell ill and passed away, leaving his widow and unborn son his meager wealth as a caravan merchant.

When born, the young Mohammad was sent to live with nomadic Bedouins. However while living with his foster parents, his mother Amina passed away herself, officially orphaning her. His foster family took great care to see that he did not starve, but during his child-hood the tribe of the Banu Hashim had been in decline and there was difficulty among them to raise him as a successful child. As he grew into adult-hood he began to make caravan voyages with his uncle – Abu-Talib - to Syria, beginning a young career as a caravan merchant.

While in Syria with his uncle Mohammad met a Christian monk. In conversation, the monk is said to have sensed the importance of Mohammad as a voice of God.

As Mohammad came of age he struck out on his own as an independent merchant. Traveling the roads from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean sea, acquiring a vast reputation as a truthful and honorable arbitrator and dealer. His reputation came to surpass him as he traveled, attracting an offer from the 40 year-old widow Khadijah whom he married. Khadijah would remain faithful to her husband, and became one of his most important financiers in his later adventures.

In his piety, Mohammad adopted the practice of praying alone in a cave on Mount Hira outside of Mecca. There it is said the first of many transformative moments happened to him. Coming down from the mountain at the age of 40 he claims to have been visited by the angel Gabriel who reveals to him the first of his many revelations from God, and the beginning of a turning point for not only himself and the Quryash: but for all the Arabs.

Over the next several years Mohammad gathers the first of his many future followers in secret, out of fear of retaliation by his own tribe and clan. Many of these early followers becoming his closest friends and loyal of companions. These companions – the Sahabah – included many prominent faces including that of Abu-Bakr, the father-in-law of Mohammad and first righteously guided Caliph.

These figures would follow Mohammad as he came into the public light as a prophet, he and their flight from Mecca to Medina as the elders of the clan sought his assassination, and the battles and return to Mecca. They received dutifully the words of the Quran and became the prophet's most trusted confidants.

With Muhhamad's death Abdullah ibn Abi Quhaafah – Abu-bakr – was elected among the early Muslim tribes as the first Caliph – successor – to the political institution created by Mohammad. With a hard hand, he enforced the solidarity of this new regime by wrangling the clans and tribes who claimed to have only signed an alliance with Mohammad himself and committed apostasy, solidifying himself and the Caliphate as the sole defender and lords of all the Bedouin Arabs. And in doing so united the clans and to turn them north to enforce their unity, and to carry the force and word of the Ummah.

Allahu ackbar.@Dinh AaronMk

Allahu ackbar

You did refer to Mohammed as a she once though. Might want to fix that =p

Vilageidiotx Member

Jacobin of All Trades

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